The use of checklists in the intensive care unit: a scoping
review
by Ethan J.
Erikson, Daniel A. Edelman, Fiona M. Brewster, Stuart D. Marshall, Maryann C.
Turner, Vineet V. Sarode and David J. Brewster
Critical Care volume 27,
Article number: 468 (2023) Published: 30
November 2023
Background
Despite the extensive volume of research published on
checklists in the intensive care unit (ICU), no review has been published on
the broader role of checklists within the intensive care unit, their
implementation and validation, and the recommended clinical context for their
use. Accordingly, a scoping review was necessary to map the current literature
and to guide future research on intensive care checklists. This review focuses
on what checklists are currently used, how they are used, process of checklist
development and implementation, and outcomes associated with checklist use.
Methods
A systematic search of MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Scopus, and
Google Scholar databases was conducted, followed by a grey literature search.
The abstracts of the identified studies were screened. Full texts of relevant
articles were reviewed, and the references of included studies were
subsequently screened for additional relevant articles. Details of the study
characteristics, study design, checklist intervention, and outcomes were
extracted.
Results
Our search yielded 2046 studies, of which 167 were selected
for further analysis. Checklists identified in these studies were categorised
into the following types: rounding checklists; delirium screening checklists;
transfer and handover checklists; central line-associated bloodstream infection
(CLABSI) prevention checklists; airway management checklists; and other. Of 72
significant clinical outcomes reported, 65 were positive, five were negative,
and two were mixed. Of 122 significant process of care outcomes reported, 114
were positive and eight were negative.
Conclusions
Checklists are commonly used in the intensive care unit and
appear in many clinical guidelines. Delirium screening checklists and rounding
checklists are well implemented and validated in the literature. Clinical and
process of care outcomes associated with checklist use are predominantly
positive. Future research on checklists in the intensive care unit should focus
on establishing clinical guidelines for checklist types and processes for
ongoing modification and improvements using post-intervention data.
